Throughout Brodie's travels, I wrote about our experiences, though I've waited to post the details until he and the kids are safetly home. Here is the daily recap of our DRC Trip 1:
OCTOBER 22, 2012 (TRIP 1, DAY 1)
It's official! Brodie is off to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to meet Noble and India for the first time! We're holding down the fort and preparing already for Trip #2!
Handwriting and language has been accomplished through letter writing these past few days. It's been really sweet to see the kids put their heart into their letters for their daddy to open on his second trip to Congo. With each day we miss him here, we write letters for him to take the next time he goes there.
Here we gooooooooooooooo!!!
OCTOBER 25, 2012 (TRIP 1, DAY 3)
Brodie left for the DRC on October 22nd (the exact same day as our India team from church left!) and has spent the last three days traveling. Due to flight delays, he and his travel companion missed their connecting flight from Addis, Ethiopia and ended up spending a day and night there since they only have one flight per day to Kinshasa.
Although this means one less day with our kids for Brodie, he has had a wonderful attitude (no huge surprise) about the detour. He enjoys traveling and new experiences and is a great sport!
Today, the 25th, I just heard via text that they have landed in Kinshasa safely (finally) and they are currently in the airport which is said to be the most stressful part of the whole travel experience. We'll see how it all goes...
The Lord has been gracious to keep the kids and me safely in the shelter of His wing as we are apart from Brodie/Daddy and although saying goodbye was very emotional, we have had a peaceful time thus far. We made chain links with Brodie's itinerary on each day's link to remove one per day (which we love to do when he travels) and we have had lots of interactions with loyal friends to keep busy.
Today is the BIG DAY that Brodie will meet Noble and India for the first time!! We can't wait to hear all about it and are prayerful with anticipation!
[UPDATE: Traffic is really bad and it is the end of the day in Kinshasa, so they may have to go straight to the hotel instead and have the children brought to them in the morning for their US Embassy appointment...Not what we expected, but just rolling with it!]
[UPDATE #2: I guess they are headed to the orphanage after all...This is just one surprise after the next! They will have to hurry in order to return to the hotel before nightfall. It's not safe to be out after dark...praying for safety, knowing that God is in control.]
Meanwhile, I heard from my sister and her family early this morning as well that they arrived safely at their hotel in Beijing, China. It's so exciting to have such wonderful things going on simultaneously...and the best is yet to come!!
Thank you to all of you who have upheld us in prayer, brought meals, sent texts, called, come over, had our troop over, and supported us in so many ways throughout this time!! God has definitely ministered to us through each of you and we are deeply grateful!
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
THEY MEET!!
First father/son, father/daughter moments...Gratitude. Emotion.
"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1
"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." Psalm 103:13
OCTOBER 26, 2012 (TRIP 1, DAY 4)
What a day! Let's just say traveling around the city of Kinshasa isn't exactly relaxing. From the sound of the circumstances, I'm amazed that my husband still has a smile on his face and a bright attitude. He is truly a sport! He inspires me time and time again!
From car accidents, to breaking down and pushing their van up a hill, to being hassled by the police, sweating in hot humidity, torrential rain, near misses around every corner, poverty that overwhelms, hoards of people in the streets, desperation beyond what we can imagine, and chaos most of us will never experience...it sounds like something out of a movie. But Brodie reassures me that much of it was actually worse than that, worse than what we can imagine, and for him...that's saying a lot!
But, the rainbow in the sky, the light at the end of the tunnel, are the sweet stories of a father already in love. He speaks of his new little ones with endearment that makes me even more excited to meet them myself. He raves about the love and care in the orphanage and I see it too in the photos. These children have hope because good people have stepped in. These children have a future because loving families are being God's hands and feet and heart in their lives.
Today was the US Embassy appointment. It went well and more smoothly than Brodie expected. Phew! My personal favorite anecdote from the day was when Brodie said Noble seemed to be getting tired, so he raised his arms up to his Daddy as if to say, "Up!" Brodie scooped up his boy and he promptly fell asleep in the arms of his father. Amazing.
I love that the kids were dressed to the nines in their finest. India even got her hair done for the first time! These mamas take excellent care of the children. What a sweet blessing from the Lord.
Today is already much better than yesterday, the day when the emotions hit home for the first time. I don't think I realized that yesterday was a "first meeting" of sorts for me too. I don't think I realized how moving it would be to see my children in my husband's arms. I don't think I realized how overwhelming it all could be.
But the Lord met me where I was, weepy, messy me. My children surrounded me and prayed for me and we all had a good cry together. By evening I was feeling like myself again, but I'm sure that wasn't the last of my tears. This is all very overwhelming at times. Other moments it feels completely normal. Weird normal. Like I've known these kids all my life normal. They are already mine in my heart in so many ways, and yet sometimes it's just plain surreal.
Brodie's confidence, being there in the midst of it all, encourages me that we are right where we should be. Delving into the Word reminds me of why we are here in the first place. And, the love of my Father God for me seeps from my heart and covers my children with His love for them. Today I am feeling blessed.
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 1 John 3:1
OCTOBER 27, 2012 (TRIP 1, DAY 5)
Brodie is on his way home! We won't see him until tomorrow but he's on his way. Just knowing this helps. We are praying for safety and I received a text that there have been new "stressors" today, though I don't know what they are. I'm praying for that as well. No matter what, we know with confidence that God is in charge. He has planned every detail for good. He loves us and He is with us, protecting, guiding, loving.
The first DRC trip is almost under our belts and we will have a week reunited as a family before Departure #2. This is not easy by any stretch, but we never set out for easy. We were never promised easy. Whatever the cost, we're in, because these precious children are SO worth it!
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost...any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27, 28, 33
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9:24
OCTOBER 28, 2012 (TRIP 1, DAY 6)
He's home! ...for now. We have a little over a week together as a family and then Brodie returns to the DRC to bring home our Noble and India. We are as ready as can possibly be.
In so many ways this is the climax of a long awaited journey, and yet, it's just the beginning of our journey together with hills and valleys and climaxes yet to come. It reminds me of pregnancy. With each gestation I grew more and more aware that I wasn't signing up for a baby.
Babies are precious and adorable (and a TON of work!), but more importantly, babies are small people...big people in the making. Each of my babies was destined to become one of my best friends and life companions. Each tiny bundle would grow to be a man or woman of God (Lord willing) with a purpose and mission for their life. With pregnancy, I definitely wasn't signing up for a baby and the same goes here. We haven't signed up for an adoption.
We've signed up to raise children into adulthood for God's glory. We've signed up to disciple hearts for a lifetime. We've signed up for a lifelong journey. We get that.
We're ready for the journey to begin. The "paper pregnancy" is over. And, we're excited. Whatever comes our way, challenges and all, we are ready for the assignment the Lord has given us, having no idea what He has deemed best. But we're in. All in. And we're prayerful.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
